NUR INTRODUCTION TO NUTRITION

C203 ELENITA S. VALDEZ, RN, MAN

I. NUTRITION
• Combination of processes which allows organisms to use food and
convert it into materials necessary for:
§ Energy
§ Maintenance of functions
§ Building and repair of components
• Food
§ Any substance that provides both energy and nutrients
§ Mostly a mixture of nutrients and water
§ Contains natural and added substances, and waste
§ Important Nutrient – provides a significant portion of daily
needs

A. NUTRIENTS
Classification according to Function
• Energy-giving (Go)
• Body building (Grow)
• Regulatory (Glow)

Table 1. Nutrients classified according to function

NUTRIENT GO GROW GLOW
Carbohydrates ✓
Lipids ✓ ✓ ✓
Proteins ✓ ✓ ✓
Vit. & Minerals ✓ ✓
Water ✓ ✓

Classification according to Concentration

• Macronutrients
§ Present in high amounts in the body
§ Measured in gram (g) quantities
§ E.g. carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, water
• Micronutrients
§ present in small amounts in the body
§ Measured in milligram (mg) or microgram (μg) quantities
§ E.g. vitamins and minerals

Classification according to Essentiality

• Must be obtained from food
• Body cannot produce these nutrients in sufficient quantities to
meet physiological needs
• Factors in Determining an Essential Nutrient
§ Omission must lead to a decline in human function
§ Restoration to diet leads to regaining of normal function
§ Specific biological function must be identified

NOTE: This lecture notes was created for Jose Rizal University BS
Nursing students enrolled in the NUR C203 course for S.Y. 2020-2021.
Sharing and reproduction of this material with other individuals is not
allowed unless officially authorized by Mrs. Valdez.

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